Mechanism for selective or combined control of front and rear wheel hydraulic drive motors



May 11, 1954 MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVE OR COMBINED CONTROL OF R. VONDERHEIDE 2,678,106

I FRONT AND REAR WHEEL HYDRAULIC DRIVE MOTORS Filed Sept. 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l In venlor Frank R. Vonderheide ay 1954 F. R. VONDERHEIDE 2,678,106 MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVE OR COMBINED CONTROL OF FRONT AND REAR WHEEL HYDRAULIC DRIVE MOTORS Filed Sept. 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Frank R. vonderhelbe' Attorneys y 1954 F. R. VONDERHEIDE 2,678,106

MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVE OR COMBINED CONTROL OF FRONT AND REAR WHEEL HYDRAULIC DRIVE MOTORS Filed Sept. 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 vvv Mae/253m.

Fig. 19.

Filed Sept. 9, 1949 May 1 1954 F. R. VONDERHEIDE 2,678,105

MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVE OR COMBINED CONTROL OF FRONT AND REAR WHEEL HYDRAULIC DRIVE MOTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. /8.

25a 256 p m2 ,9 l 04 z I F @i' R. s) IL 258- BY 24.0w.

228 Frank R. Vanderhe/de 22 230 INVENTOR.

Patented May ll, 1954 UNITED STATE ATENT OFFICE MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVE OR COM- BINED CONTROL OF FRONT AND REAR WHEEL HYDRAULIC DRIVE MOTORS 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im provements in hydraulically actuated drives and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a variable speed, reverse and forward hydraulic drive for vehicles that will eliminate the necessity of having to provide for a differential and clutch mechanism on a vehicle.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic drive including a wheel structure, a plurality of hydraulically actuated rotors for driving the wheel and embodying a novel and improved valve whereby a fluid under pressure may rotate all of the rotors simultaneously, a pair of the rotors or a selected one of the rotors for varying the rotary speed of the wheel.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a variable speed, reverse and forward hydraulic drive that is incorporated with each wheel of a vehicle to permit instant movement of the vehicle in either a forward or rear direction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle having wheels that are hydraulically driven in either a forward or rear direction and including a valve operating means for each wheel that is mounted on the instrument panel of the vehicle in a conveniently accessible position for a driver.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a hydraulic drive by which the front and rear wheels of a vehicle may separately or jointly be driven.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a variable speed, reverse and forward hydraulic drive for vehicles that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, efficient and durable in operation, safe and convenient in handling, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one wheel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of one wheel of the present invention, showing the manner in which fluid under pressure is supplied to the wheel driving rotors;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of :Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of one of the rotors used in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the forward and reverse control valve used in conjunction with the present invention in position for permitting the wheels to be driven forwardly;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the forward and reverse control valve rotated to a position for permitting the wheels to be driven rearwardly;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of one of the speed control valves used in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the valve shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of one of the speed control valves;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the rotor housing, details of construction of which are shown in Figure 2, illustrating the valve actuating crank and pipe connection;

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the partition plates used in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the valve actuating mechanism that is utilized in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line Iiiof Figure 14;

Figure 16 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line iE-ifi of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the wheel speed control unit with the valve members in modified form;

Figure 18 is a reduced bottom plan view of Figure 17 to show one of the valve casings and with parts removed for the convenience of explanation; and

Figure 19 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 19-49 of Figure 18.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral It represents a vehicle frame or chassis having forward and rear cross members or wheel mountings I2 and I4.

A pair of forward wheels IS and I8 are associated with the forward cross-member I2 and a pair of rear wheels 2!] and 22 are associated with the rear cross member I4. The wheels are all constructed similarly and each of the wheels is provided with a hub portion 24 that is secured to a stub axle 26through the medium of bearings 28 and 33 whereby the wheels may rotate freely upon their supporting axles.

The axles supporting the wheels include base plates 32 to which are detachably secured rotor housings SI, each having an inner ring member or wall 34 by fasteners 36. The ring members. 34 are interposed between the base plates 32 and the hub portions 24 and include flanges that are removably secured to outer ring members or walls 40. The ring members 34" and 4% together with the flanges 38 constitute housings that are held stationary with respect to the wheels, and the inner ring members are' detachabl secured to the wheel cylinder sup porting walls d2 of the wheels by further fasteners A l.

It is thus observed that there is a housing associated with each wheel, and each of the housings is composed of the ring members 34 and 42 with a flange 38-. The housings are tightly sealed and, to further prevent the passage of a fluid from the housings, threaded collars 4'5, integrally formed with the outer ring members 48 and embracing the hub portions, are threaded to packing glands or sealing rings 48.

Each of the aforementioned housings is divided into preferably three chambers 50, 52 and 54 by partition rings 56 and 58. The outer circumferences of the partition rings 56 and 58 are suitably keyed to the inner peripheries of the flange portions 38 and are spaced with respect to each other and the ring members 34 and 45} so that the chamber 50 is the largest of the three members and the chamber 54 is the smallest of the three chambers.

Keyed, as at 55, to the outer periphery of each hub portion are three ring type rotors or impellers B5, 62 and 64 that are disposed in the respective chambers 50, 52 and 54. It should be noted that the rotor 60 is the wider of the three rotors and the rotor 64 is the narrower of the three rotors. The rotors 6t, 52 and 64 are provided with circumferentially spaced, radially disposed blades, vanes or impeller fingers 66, 68 and "iii, respectively, on their outer circumference. The blades 56 on the rotor 60 are larger in area than the blades 68 and iii, and the blades '58 are smaller in area than the blades 66 Or 68.

A pair of casings l2 and I4- are integrally formed with the flanges 38 of each of the houshogs and include longitudinal slots' or openings to provide very little clearance between the rotor blades and the. flanges 38.

The numeral represents a cylindrical valve having a first group of transverse or diametrical passages or ports 88, 9!! and 92; a second group of transverse or diametrical passages or ports 94 and 96'; another transverse or diametrical port or passage 98; a further transverse or diametrical passage or port I06; and a still further transverse or diametrical port or passage I02. The ports 88, and 92 are disposed in one plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the valve 86 and which plane is circumferentially spaced relative to planes passing through the other ports. Similarly, the ports 3d and 98 are disposed in one longitudinal axis plane as are each of the ports 83, It?! and H2, with all of the planes being circumferentially spaced relative to each other. The ports 92, 9B and E62 lie in a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of he valve 85; the ports 96, S4 and .Iili! lie in a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the Valve 85 and spaced parallel to. a plane through the ports 92, and I02; and the ports 88 and 98 lie in a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve 86 and spaced parallel to planes through the ports 93, t4 and E32, 55, IE2, respectively.

Of the casings 'iiand '14, only the casings T2 are provided with a valve 8%. The casings 12 are provided with combined inlet and outlet nipples I64 and the casings Hi with similar nipples we. The nipples Hi4 and Hit are connected, respectively, to pipe lines I58 and HG.

Mounted upon the frame I6 adjacent the forward wheels it and it is a power unit H2 consisting of an engine H4 and pump Ila operated by the engine I I4. The intake side of the pump HE is connected to a reservoir H3, mounted on the frame It, by an inlet line or conduit I29, and the outlet side of the pump IIG is provided with a valve housing I22 from which there extends a pair of pipe sections I24 and I126. The pipe section 2 1 is connected to the pipe line m8 and the pipe section I25 extends to the reservoir IE8. A further pipe section I 28 extends from the reservoir us and is connected to the pipe line i Mi.

A main control valve housing 539 is interposed in the pipe sec ions I24 and E28. A barrel valve I32 is mounted in the housing 533 for rotation and includes a pairof spaced parallel transverse or diametrical ports or passages I34 and i that will communicate with the pipe sections I 24 and it'd when the wheels are to be rotated for moving the frame forwardly (see Fig. 6), and a pair of non-intersecting cross-- passages or ports I38 and M2? that will communicate with pipe sections I24 and 528 on cpposite sides of the housing its when the wheels are to be rotated for moving the frame It rearwardly (see Fig. '7),

The valve 132 includes trunnions M2 and I44 at each end and the trunnion I42 extends outwardly of the housing I32 and is threaded to receive a washer its and nut Hit. A coil spring I52 embraces the trunnion Hi2 and is biased between the washer i liiandthe housing I30 to' 'yieldingly retain the valve E32 in a selected roator I54 of conventional and well known con-- struction and the operators iii; are connected by conduits I 56 to the power unit ilfiisothat,

as the brake pedal I58 of the power'unit H2 is depressed, a braking action: of the wheels will occur. A relief valve I60 is provided so that if the fluid pressure leaving the pump is too large for the lines I08 and H0, some of the pressure will be reduced by entering the reservoir.

Means is provided for rotating the valves 86 and this means comprises flexible cables I62 that are secured to cranks I64 mounted on the valves 86 and which cables extend to a position conveniently accessible to an operator of the vehicle. The cables I62 of the rear wheels and the forward wheels may be actuated simultaneously or individually by independent levers or a single lever to activate the valves 06 singly or combined.

In practical use of the present invention, for moving the vehicle or frame III forwardly, the engine I I4 is started (by a push button or starter pedal) and the speed is controlled by the driver. Valve I32 is disposed with the ports I34 and I35 in communication with the pipe line I24 and I28 (Fig. 6). Fluid pumped throughline I03 bythe pump H6 will enter the rotor housings by way of valve housings I2 to rotate the rotors and drive the wheels forwardly and fluid within the rotor chambers will pass therefrom and into the pipe line III! by way of the casings I4.

The forward speed of the wheels is governed by the valves 86 so that all rotors '60, 62 and 64 will rotate, the rotors 62 and 64 will rotate, or a selected one of the rotors will rotate. The ports 88, 90 and 92 are arranged in alignment tosimultaneously register with the port 80 and thereby communicate, respectively, with the retorchambers 50, 52 and 54. In this position of the valve 86, maximum power is developed at each wheel and corresponds to the low gear position in conventional vehicle drives. Similarly, rotation of the valve 86 whereby the ports 94 and 96 register with the port 80 effects communication of fluid flow to the chambers 52 and 54 which corresponds to second gear position. Further rotation of the valve 86 to effect a register of port i02 with rotor chamber 54 corresponds to "high gear position. If desired, fluid flow to chamber 52 only or to chamber 5d only is accomplished by rotating valve 86 for registry of port Iilii with port 80 or registry of port 98 with port 80.

For movement of the wheels in a rearward direction, the valve I32 is rotated manually so that the portions I38 and I40 communicate with the lines I2 l and 23 to reverse the flow of fluid through the lines I88 and H0. Fluid will then enter the chambers 50, 52 and 54 by way of the casings I l and will leave the casings by way of the casings 12.

Reference is next directed to Figures 1, 14, 15 and 16 wherein there is disclosed the hand operated control mechanism for the valves 86 so that the speed of rear wheels and forward wheels can be controlled independently or collectively. This control mechanism includes a pair of spaced parallel forward and rear shafts I 80 and I 82 that are J'ournaled for rotation on the forward portion of the frame I0 and rearwardly of the forward wheels l6 and I8.

A pair of laterally projecting arms I54 and I86 are suitably secured to the forward shaft I80 and are fixed to the cables I62 leading to the valves 88 in the casings I2 of the forward rotor housings. Laterally projecting arms :88 and I90 are also fixed to the rear shaft I82 and are secured to the cables I02 leading to the valve 6 86 mounted in the casings I2 of the rear roto housings.

Hand levers I92 and Iilt are suitably secured to the shafts I and I82, respectively, and these hand levers support slidable locking dogs or pawls i538 and I98 that will engage arcuately spaced notches 200 and 202 provided in ratchets 22 i and 2% that are secured to the frame I0 to retain the shafts I80 and I82 in a selected rotated position. It should be noted that the notches 2t!) and 202 are so arranged and placed in complemental relationship to the valves 86 so that a selected group of ports in the valves 35 will register with the openings 80 as the shafts are locked in selected rotated positions.

Spring-urged hand grips 2055 and 2I0 are pivoted to the levers 402, 94 and are connected to the pawls I95, I98 by pitmans or links 2l2 and 254 whereby the pawls will be normally urged to their locking engagement with the ratchets 2%, 235. A holding ring 2Iii is pivoted to the lever I54 and is manually moved to embrace the hand grip 2 I 0 to hold the hand grip 2%0 depressed and the pawl I88 out of locking engagement with the ratchet 2% when the shafts I39 and I82 are to be rotated together in a manner later to be described.

A clutch mechanism (see Fig. 16) is provided so that both the shafts I80 and I82 can be rotated together or whereby the shafts I80 and IE2 may be rotated independently. This clutch mechanism comprises a drive sprocket 2I8 that is loosely journaled on the shaft I82 by inner and outer rings 220 and 222. The rings 220 and 222 are suitably secured to the shaft I82 and the drive sprocket 2I8 is provided with an annular flange 224 on its inner face that embraces the ring 220. Circumferentially space-d clutch teeth 228 are formed on the flange 224 for engagement with clutch teeth 228 provided on the inner face of a clutch ring 230 that is slidably mounted on and rotatable with the shaft I82.

Thelower bifurcated end 232 of a hand operated clutch lever 284 is pivoted to the clutch ring 230 and the lever 234 is pivoted intermediate its ends to a suitable bracket 285 mounted on the frame I0 or the ratchet 206.

The drive sprocket 2I8 is connected to a driven sprocket 238, fixed on the shaft I89, by an endless drive chain 240. When the ring 2 I 6 is placed over the hand grip 2I0 and the clutch teeth 228 are interdigitated with the clutch teeth 226, a movement of the lever I92 will cause a rotation of both shafts I80 and I02 and when the pawl I96 engages a selected one of the notches 220, both the shafts I30 and I82 will be locked against rotation with the valves 86 in the casings 12 of both the forward and rear rotor housings simultaneously adjusted.

By disengaging the clutch teeth 228 with the clutch teeth 22% and releasing the ring 2; from the hand grip 2H3, the shafts I80 and I82 can be rotated independently to regulate the speed of rotation of the forward wheels and the rear wheels.

Attention is now directed to Figures 17, 18 and 19, wherein there is disclosed the valve means for the rotor housings in slightly modified form. In this embodiment, the rotor housings will be referred to by the numeral 242. The rotor housings 242 are similar to those previously described and include valve casings having upper sections 244, 246 and lower sections 248, 250. The lower sections 240, 250 are detachably secured to the upper sections.

lower sections when the valves 25 3 are in their closed positions. Pivoted to the under surfaces of the valve 259 are further flap valves 258 that are spring urged upwardly to close the openings in the valves 254. V 7

Under a predetermined pressure entering the casing sections 228, 259 both valves 255, 258 in a selected compartment will swing upwardly, whereas when adownward pressure is applied to the valve members 252 of a selected compartment, the valves 258 will pivot downwardly.

Means is provided whereby the valve members 252 controlling the larger two of the rotor compartments (50, 52) will be actuated by a predetermined fluid pressure. This means consists of lugs 22%? that are secured to the sections and which slidably support resilient strips 262. The strips 252 are held in adjusted position by set'screws 29 carried by the lugs 2G9. Ears 256 integrally formed with the lugs adjustably receive screws that will bear against the strip 262 to bow the strips and these screws 260 form V fulcrums for the strips 262.

The pivot pins 279 for the valve members 252 are provided with angulated ends 272 supporting rollers 274 that ride against the strips 292.

In this latest embodiment of the valve means, no control mechanism is required, since the fluid pressure in the lines 108 and H0 will be such as to actuate the valves 252 under a predetermined pressure, the fluid pressure in the conduits I08 and H0 being controlled by the speed of the power unit andthe operator of the power unit. The forward and rear movement of the vehicle is controlled by the valve I32.

Obviously, a valve member such as 252 could be applied to the compartments in the sections 242, 2G8 and 240, 25G communicating with the chamber 55. Also, valves such as 85 could'be applied to the casings i l if a more precise 'reverse speed control is required.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A hydraulic drive device for vehicles comprising forward and rear drive housings, rotors in said housings, means for introducing a flow of iluid into" said housings, valve means with each of said housings for controlling the flow 013 fluid thereto, a pair of rotatable shafts, one of said shafts being operatively connected to the valve means associated with the forward of said housings and the other of said shafts being operatively connected to the valve means associated with the rear of said housings, means connecting the shafts for co-rotation, and other means for selectively disconnecting said connecting means for independent rotation of said shafts.

2. A hydraulic drive device for vehicles com- 7 rising forward and rear drive housings, rotors in said housings, means for introducing a flow of fluid into said housings, valve means with each. of said housings for controlling the flow of fluid thereto, a pair of rotatable shafts, one of said shafts being operatively connected to the valve means associated with the forward of said housings and the other of said shafts being operatively connected to the .valve means associated with the rear of said housings, sprocket and chain means connecting said shafts for 00- rotation, clutch .means for disconnecting said :shafts, and other means for individually and separately rotating said shafts.

3. A hydraulic drive device for vehicles comprising drive housings for the front and rear wheels of a vehicle, rotors in said housings, means for introducing a flow of fluid into said housings, a valve for each housing for controlling the fiow of fluid thereto, a first rotatable shaft operatively connected to and for actuating each valve of a front wheel housing, a second rotatable shaft operatively connected to and for actu- Number Name Date 1,036,743 Sundh Aug. 27, 1912' 1,043,480 Sundh 1 Nov. 5, 1912 1,156,818 Rich Oct. 12, 1915 1,349,924 Swanson Aug. 17, 1920 1,426,902 Noel et al 1 Aug. 22, 1922 1,930,032 Apple Oct. 10, 1933 1,987,698 Montelius Jan. 15, 1935 2,257,108 Cornwell Sept. 30,1941 2,355,604 Rupp Aug. 15, 1944 2,381,109 Cartlidge Aug. 7, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES The American Inventor, April 1906, page 101. 

